Fumihiko Maki’s first building in Canada is a deceivingly complex cultural building of a quality rarely seen in this country.
PROJECT Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, Ottawa, Ontario
ARCHITECTS Maki and Associates in collaboration with Moriyama & Teshima Architects
TEXT Ian Chodikoff
PHOTOS Tom Arban, unless otherwise noted
It is a rare occurrence when the complex engineering strategies and design details comprising a building merge into a sublime architectural experience. Such is the case with the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat building in Ottawa. Designed by Fumihiko Maki, the building is the veteran Japanese architect’s first commission in Canada. Working with Moriyama & Teshima Architects–the architects of record–Maki and his team have achieved an extraordinary level of resolution and refinement throughout the building. No detail was overlooked or overdesigned. Equally remarkable is the commitment of His Highness the Aga Khan, an enlightened client who understands how architecture can become a significant testament to his efforts in global pluralism, cultural heritage, and social and economic development–efforts that focus on both the Islamic world and the Ismaili diaspora.
Read here: http://www.canadianarchitect.com/issues/ISArticle.asp?aid=1000358933&PC=
Ismailimail 